The Houston Police Department's Mary Boozier right, looks over documents from Kathleen Boyd , at U.S. Customs and Border Protection check point during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

The Houston Police Department's Mary Boozier right, looks over documents from Kathleen Boyd , at U.S. Customs and Border Protection check point during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

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Volunteers wait in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection line during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

Volunteers wait in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection line during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 14

The Houston Police Department's Mary Boozier left, looks over documents from Chandler Wimbish right, during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

The Houston Police Department's Mary Boozier left, looks over documents from Chandler Wimbish right, during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 14

Volunteers use Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities.

Volunteers use Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in

Volunteers use Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

Volunteers use Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Image 7 of 14

Volunteers use Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

Volunteers use Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Image 8 of 14

A woman walks past Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

A woman walks past Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Image 9 of 14

Volunteers walk past Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

Volunteers walk past Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

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Shelley Lamar center, is assisted after using the Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

Shelley Lamar center, is assisted after using the Automated Passport Control terminals during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

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Charles Chau looks over a mock passport during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities. less

Charles Chau looks over a mock passport during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. ... more

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

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Anne Lewandowski uses an Automated Passport Control terminal during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Houston. About 250 volunteers will get passports, boarding passes, to test the new concourse facilities.

Anne Lewandowski uses an Automated Passport Control terminal during testing of processes and the different facilities at Hobby Airport's new international concourse set to open in October, Saturday, Sept. 19,

Anne Lewandowski flew in from Dallas early Saturday specifically to do what most travelers dread: go through airport security, wait on the uncomfortable terminal seats, and pass through immigration and customs proceedings. Her reward? A free Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwich, lunch from Pappas, and a peek at Hobby Airport's new international concourse.

"We're aviation geeks," said the 31-year-old technical writer at Southwest Airlines. "You don't get to see a new airport terminal every day."

Lewandowski's father, who lives in Houston, had alerted her to the airport's simulation event, meant to root out any user problems before the terminal's historic opening on Oct. 15. Her colleague, Kristy Nolan, came along, too.

Southwest is spending $156 million on the 280,000- square-foot concourse that will include five gates, four of which will be dedicated to the Dallas-based carrier. But it wasn't only those with vested interests whiling away the beautiful day in an airport. Many of the 250 volunteers were flight enthusiasts. Others had never flown to a foreign country before and were excited to pretend they could.

Some had relatives who worked on the expansion project and were curious about the result.

"It's testing what we're doing and ensuring that on Oct. 15, when we have the international passengers come through, that it goes smoothly, that they really enjoy the experience," said Bill Begley, a spokesman for the Houston Airport System.

Southwest began offering international flights last summer and beginning Oct. 15, Southwest will have daily flights from Hobby to Cancun, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos in Mexico, and to San Jose, Costa Rica, and Belize City, Belize. On Nov. 1, it will begin daily flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Liberia, Costa Rica.